FAQ - about Failsafe or RPAH diet

What does it mean when we list flavours in the ingredients list ?

When going on a Failsafe diet or undertaking an elimination diet for the purpose of investigating possible food intolerances, people are usually informed to avoid both natural and artificial flavours. The reason for this because flavours, even those that are natural usually exist at levels that are concentrated 10-100 times those found in the wholefood. According to the RPAH allergy clinic there are a few flavours that are well tolerated by most people. These include: caramel, butterscotch, vanilla (limited), butter flavour, musk and pear flavour. Some of the products we sell contain these flavours. We list these as being ok on a strict elimination diet. We always check the suitability of our products with RPAH or Fedup before we list them as suitable on a strict elimination diet. We would never list them as ok unless we were absolutely sure. Some highly sensitive individuals may still react to these flavours as they might to a whole range of other foods or ingredients. However, on the whole, most people tolerate these and so they are allowed, even on a strict elimination diet.

Corn vs Maize ingredients

There always seems to be a great deal of confusion when people start on an elimination or Failsafe diet as to whether they can have ingredients based on corn. The rule of thumb is that: CORNFLOUR, CORN STARCH AND MAIZE STARCH Are OK! Glucose syrup from maize or corn is also ok. They are highly processed and have no residual protein or salicylates remaining in the finished product. Maize Flour or corn itself is NOT OK. Occasionally a manufacturer will list corn flour as the ingredient. In this case it is useful to check with the manufacturer exactly what the ingredient is. In the case of the Eskal brand of pastas, which lists corn flour as an ingredient, we have checked it and made sure that the ingredient is indeed the highly refined cornflour. We always check the suitability of our products with RPAH or Fedup before we list them as suitable on a strict elimination diet. We would never list them as ok unless we were absolutely sure. Finally cornflour and glucose syrup made from corn are usually not recommended as restricted by allergists or health professionals due to the highly processed nature of the product.

Oils

Recently we have been asked by some of our customers about the source of the oils in the ingredients lists on our webpages. We would like to reassure you that we always check any suspect ingredients with manufacturers, before we sell them online. We refuse to sell any products that have any artificial additives – colours, flavours or preservatives. This includes products that may not have labelled antioxidants due to the 5% loop hole. However, it is always possible that manufacturers change their ingredients and we do our best to be on top of this. If you ever suspect a problem, please let us or Fedup know or contact the manufacturer directly.